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3 Ways You Can Help Keep Our Bays Healthy
Following a previous article on the number of ways you can help sea turtles, this week we will look at ways that local residents can help keep our waterways clean. Poor water quality is a concern all...
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Our Changing Climate Could Favor Exotic Species
As Florida’s natural climate variability becomes more amplified over the coming decades and today’s unseasonable extremes become the norm, some native plant species will become less competitive. Our...
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Cnidarians: Stinging Nettles of the Animal Kind
Life Stages of the True Jellyfish: Photo: By Matthias Jacob Schleiden (1804-1881) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons “Ouch, something just stung me.” This is a common phrase to hear someone say...
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April Shows DO Bring May Flowers – Discovering the Panhandle – Barrier Islands
This month there were many more plants flowering… it is true that April showers do bring May flowers. May not only brings more flowers but more tourists. Everyone is out enjoying the weather,...
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It is One Goliath of a Fish… the Goliath Grouper
For many who are seafood lovers there is nothing like a good grouper sandwich; makes me hungry just to write that. Groupers are members of the one of the largest families of fish in the Gulf of...
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Shark Safety Tips
Pregnant Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) cruses the sandy seafloor. Credit Florida Sea Grant Stock Photo Shark Safety Tips UF/IFAS Extension – Florida Sea Grant By L. Scott Jackson (Bay County) and...
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What Caused the Fish Kill Along the Florida Panhandle This Week?
This past week hundreds of dead fish washed ashore between Escambia and Okaloosa counties. Most were of one species but there were others who died and it appeared they had been in the water for...
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Dodder: Vampire Plant or Nature’s Own Genetic Modification Organism?
Dodder vines covering an oak seedling. The vines always wrap counterclockwise.Photo Credit: Jed Dillard Vampires of all types and genetic modifications are hot topics these days, and a common, but...
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What You Need to Know About Vibrio Bacteria in Gulf Waters
After the recent report of a fatality due to the Vibrio bacteria near Tampa many locals have become concerned about their safety when entering the Gulf of Mexico this time of year. So what are the...
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Looks like a Typical Year for the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone
What is the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone you ask? Well…it’s a layer of hypoxic water (low in dissolved oxygen) on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. It was first detected in the 1970’s but reached its peak...
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Things are Getting Hot on the Island… Discovering the Florida Panhandle –...
The air temperatures are in the high ‘90’s and the heat indices are reaching over 100°F; heck the inland water temperatures are in the high ‘80’s – it’s just hot out there! But our barrier island...
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Hermit Crabs Add to Summer Fun At North Florida Beaches
A room with a view: a stripped hermit crab sizes up a potential residence Summertime in north Florida is good. Among the premium experiences are leisurely hours at the beach. For many this is a period...
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The Osprey: Apex Predator and Master Angler
Osprey nesting sites are commonly near water, and their food source. In north Florida water sports are a supreme pastime in summer. Fishing is among the most popular activity for all ages in this...
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Florida’s Rangeland Agriculture and the Environment: A Natural Partnership
Woodlands and rangelands are important to both our economy and environment. Photo by Judy Ludlow Most of us living in panhandle Florida recognize that our farmers and ranchers are committed to...
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The Sweet Sound of Summer – Cicadas
I was sitting on my back porch late in the afternoon this past week enjoying the breeze and the sunset when the familiar sound of the bugs some call “locust” began their buzzing songs. Not all would...
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Ghost Crabs… raiders of the night
For locals along the coast ghost crabs are as common as mockingbirds and mourning doves. Before Ivan, when the dunes were larger and closer to the road, viewing the white crabs scouring across the...
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The Giant Banana Spiders – part of our panhandle summer
The elongated body of the Golden Orb Weaver. Photo: Molly O’Connor TELL ME NO! Please tell me these huge spiders are not a part of our summer. People are afraid snakes… that’s a given – but there are...
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The Mystery on Seahorse Key
First let me explain that Seahorse Key is not in the Florida Panhandle but the story is interesting and a similar phenomena could occur here. Seahorse Key is an isolated island 3.6 miles southwest of...
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Do Constricting Snakes Really Kill Their Prey by Suffocation?
Most people, including myself, have been taught this. Snakes are in an unusual situation of trying to kill prey with no hands or claws. A few can inject venom, others either swallow it whole (such as...
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E-15 Gasoline is Here… marine motors and lawn care providers should be aware
Boating is a very popular activity in the sunshine state.Photo: Rick O’Connor Okay… Let’s start at the beginning. We began drilling oil over 100 years ago. The crude was refined into kerosene,...
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